IT doesn’t get much better than scoring an injury-time winner, especially when it’s to help secure your side’s first league win of the season.

Coming on with just five minutes of normal time remaining at Bolton, Oldham forward Zak Dearnley latched onto fellow substitute Alfie McCalmont’s through ball and finished low into the bottom corner after a run which covered the majority of the pitch with just seconds to go in added time.

Before that, Latics were being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at the University of Bolton Stadium after Nathan Delfouneso levelled in the first half following Ben Garrity’s opener.

That win moves the club out of the relegation places and above opponents Bolton Wanderers into 19th in League Two and registers an all-important first league win for head coach Harry Kewell.

“The most important thing is that we got the three points today,” said a delighted Dearnley at full-time after grabbing his first league goal of the season.

“Obviously, everyone knows that we haven’t had a great start but all the lads are buzzing.

“I just did my job to come onto the pitch and try and help the team as much as I can and luckily I got the goal.

“The gaffer just said go out there and enjoy it and run as much as you can, try and get something for the team.

“Alfie won it and knocked it on for me and I’ve just carried on driving and being positive as that’s what the gaffer always gets at. I saw the gap open and thought, ‘you know what, it’s last minute of the game, have a shot’ and it’s gone in and paid off.”

That goal marked just the forward’s third appearance in the league for Latics so far this season after struggling with injury and also facing competition from new signings Conor McAleny and Dylan Bahamboula.

But despite competition for a place up front in Kewell’s starting 11 becoming increasingly competitive, the Latics forward believes it will only benefit the squad going forward.

“It’s good, competition is always healthy I think in football,” he added.

“It was me and Rowey (Danny Rowe) last season but sometimes that can put you at ease because we knew that we were going to play the next game.

“But this season its a lot better because there are more players so there’s more competition and it’s pushing you every day.”

And with a first league win finally secured, Dearnley was quick to add that it’s now up to the squad to continue to improve, starting with their next fixture against Carlisle United on Tuesday.

He said: “I think it brings out the confidence in us now, we knew we could win games and we’ve got that first one now so we can prepare for the next one.

“We’ve got the three points and we’re happy but we need to focus on Tuesday and we’re looking forward to that.

“We can enjoy the result in the changing room but ultimately we have to focus and get another three points.”